One and One With Brooklyn Borough VP By Felicia Persaud New York, June 2002: Less than two months into the post, Yvonne Graham, Brooklyn's first Caribbean-born deputy borough president is already pursuing something close to her heart - she's working closely with the borough president to "expand and grow" the county's health care industry. In a recent interview, the founder and former executive director of the Caribbean Women's Health Association revealed that part of Borough President Marty Markowitz's plan is to create a healthier Brooklyn and she couldn't agree less. Those plans include something as unique as a weight reduction campaign for Brooklynites to working with health care workers and professionals to further strengthen health care in the borough. Brooklyn is one of the largest employers of health care workers and professionals in the state. The Jamaican-born registered nurse and public health specialist, who says she hits the gym everyday, believes that health impacts all other priority areas, including economic development and education, and focus on it as a priority can only ensure a more vibrant population and work force. While Graham stated that a number of forums have already been hosted by the borough president's office, she acknowledged that plans have yet to be implemented. But for now, she's doing what she did for the past 20 years in the health field ­ she's listening. The Fort Greene resident says that ever since coming to the post on February 1st, she's spent a huge portion of her days "bringing people together to ensure that we understand the needs and concerns of communities and play an active role in ensuring that we improve quality of life." The Manchester High School alumnus and St. Ann's native is no politician but she shrewdly ran CWHA since 1982, making it the successful entity it is today. While she recognizes that proposed budget cuts in the post-9/11 era might affect certain programs in the borough, she is wise enough to realize that community partnerships are now more important than ever to leverage resources. "One of the operating principles of this office is to serve as a catalyst to encourage dialogue to serve as a place where people can come meet and build consensus, resolve problems, address issues and formulate recommendations and solutions," said Graham. "We're certainly working closely with the community boards and neighborhood groups to ensure meaningful exchange takes place." This includes using her post ­ which ranges from systems management to responsibility for education, health, social, uniform and senior services to constituent building - to help Brooklyn's diverse communities to work together to understand and celebrate one another's history and culture. Asked whether that includes funding a museum to showcase the culture and costumes of West Indian nationals who make up a significant percentage of the borough's diverse ethnicity, Graham revealed that Borough President Markowitz plans to make this a reality, but she cautioned that with the present tight fiscal environment she's unsure of how far the plan will advance or when it will happen. "I know he's committed but how long it's going to take is another issue," said the deputy borough president. Questioned further as to whether she will offer support on an amnesty effort for undocumented immigrants, particularly since as CWHA head immigration was part of the services offered, Graham pointed out first that the issue is a federal one. But she added, "Where possible and when necessary, this office will support initiatives that will protect the rights of all its residents." But for now, this pretty, petite woman - who declined to give her age - says she's focusing on really making "a positive contribution" to improving the life of the borough's residents. While this divorcee readily admits that being deputy borough president was never in her thoughts, she does reveal that her personal philosophy "be the best you can be" will certainly help her turn the challenges this new position poses into opportunities. And she urged all Caribbean nationals to do the same, especially when it comes to becoming naturalized United States citizens and voting. "This is a government of the people for the people. So that those Caribbean people here who are eligible to vote should vote those who have not registered to should and those who are eligible to become citizens should so they can vote because that's where the power is," said Graham. "The power is in the vote."